环球英语 — 398：Kaká the Great

　　Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight¹ program. I’m Ryan Geertsma.
Voice 2
And I’m Marina Santee. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
It is September, 2005. The AC Milan football team is playing the best team in Turkey. The game is tied. The score is one goal to one goal. Player number twenty-two [22] from the Milan team gets the ball in the middle of the field. He begins running up the field. He kicks the ball past one defending player, then another. Finally he passes the ball quickly around the last defender². Now, only the goalkeeper stands between him and the goal. Number twenty-two [22] is moving fast. He kicks the ball hard. The ball flies down and to the right, under the goalkeeper’s hands and into the net. Goal! He scores and the crowd screams with joy!
Voice 2
This was the story of a great goal by the world class footballer - Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite. However, many football lovers³ may not even recognize that name. This is because most people know the player by his short name - Kaká.  Today’s Spotlight program is about the life of Kaká - both on and off the football field.
Voice 1
Kaká was born in Brasília, Brazil in 1982. He has played football since he was a little boy. And he has always been very good. Kaká is only twenty-six years [26] old. However, he has become a very famous international football player. He plays for both the Brazilian National football team and the AC Milan Italian club team.
Voice 2
This past year has been extremely special for Kaká. In December of 2007, Kaká’s team, AC Milan, won a very important competition. They won the FIFA Club World Cup. This is the most important world-wide football competition for club teams. So, this was a great honor⁴ for Kaká and AC Milan. However, that was only part of Kaká’s great year in football. Kaká was also named the 2007 European Footballer of the Year and the FIFA World Player of the Year. These are the greatest individual awards a footballer can receive.
Voice 1
Many people who are not football lovers know Kaká. His face has become well-known across the world. He is often on television, and in newspapers and magazines. This is because he works⁵ as a model for a famous clothing company. And because he uses his name to help sell things like sports equipment and even soft drinks. Kaká has become very famous through these kinds of business.
Voice 2
In 2008, Kaká was named one of TIME magazine’s one hundred [100] people with most influence in the world. Most people probably think Kaká received the award for his football and business successes. But these are only part of why he received the award. The story in TIME noted⁶ another, less known fact about Kaká - he works as an ambassador⁷.
Voice 1
In 2004, the United Nations’ World Food Programme appointed Kaká as an Ambassador Against Hunger. Kaká is not the only famous individual to be appointed to such a position. However, he was the youngest ever to be appointed. Kaká was then only twenty-two [22] years old. And for almost four years, he has worked to help the cause of hungry people worldwide. When Kaká was appointed as an ambassador, he told the press,
Voice 3
“It is a real honor to help the World Food Program rid the world of hunger. I owe a lot to football. Now I would like to give something back and bring hope to hungry children who have less than I have.”
Voice 2
When Kaká was growing up, he wanted to be like another famous footballer named Raí. Raí was one of Brazil’s greatest players when Kaká was young. Raí also played for a European club team and he was very successful. But Kaká respected Raí for other reasons as well. He says,
Voice 3
“Not only was Raí a great football player, but he also cared about social issues. When he played in Paris Saint⁸ Germain, he managed many charity works to improve the poverty situation in Brazil.”
Voice 1
Like Raí, Kaká cares much about the social issues of the world. In February of 2008, Kaká helped the United Nations launch⁹ a new program. This new program is called “Fill the Cup.” There are fifty-nine million [59,000,000] children around the world who go to school hungry each day. “Fill the Cup” seeks to raise money for these children. The World Food Program often uses plastic containers, or cups to provide food to hungry children. So, the “Fill the Cup” program is named after these cups.
Voice 2
Kaká has spoken on television and the Internet about the program. And he even dedicated¹⁰ one of his football games to the cause. Kaká explains why he supports the program,
Voice 3
“I come from a country where I have seen how hunger can rob a child’s future. So I am very proud to ask football lovers and other people to Fill the Cup and build a strong base for the future.”
Voice 1
Kaká is a great footballer and a great ambassador for world hunger. But he is also a great man of faith. Kaká speaks often about his Christian¹¹ faith. And he hopes to become a Christian minister after he stops playing football. For Kaká, it is very important for his life to support what he believes. He says,
Voice 3
“I am not supposed to be hitting people on the field or using bad language. My concern, before my own team mates¹² and the players on the other team, is to be what I am. I never want to say one thing and be something else. As much as possible I try to say something about Jesus, about life with God, and to help other people.”
Voice 2
As an Ambassador for World Hunger, Kaká does live out his desire “to help other people.” However, some people do not approve of Kaká’s desire to live out his faith so strongly on the football field. During football games, he often wears clothes that say things like “I belong to Jesus” or “God is faithful¹³.” Many people criticize¹⁴ him for wearing clothes like these.
Voice 1
Kasey Keller is an American goalkeeper, now playing in Britain. He wrote the TIME’s one-hundred magazine story about Kaká. Keller is not sure that the football field is the best place to share about religion. However, he says,
Voice 4
“In a time when many sports players care more about cars, women and getting into trouble, it is wonderful to see one who is loyal¹⁵ to the idea of making positive changes to the world around him.”
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

3 lovers   

爱好者( lover的名词复数 )； 情人； 情夫； 情侣

参考例句：

• They were off-screen lovers. 他们是真实生活中的情侣。
• Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet 罗密欧和朱丽叶这一对莎士比亚笔下命运多舛的恋人

4 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

5 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 ambassador   

n.大使，特使，（派驻国际组织的）代表

参考例句：

• He took up office as an ambassador for ten years continuously.他连任十年大使。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

8 saint   

n.圣徒；基督教徒；vt.成为圣徒，把...视为圣徒

参考例句：

• He was made a saint.他被封为圣人。
• The saint had a lowly heart.圣人有谦诚之心。

9 launch   

vt.发动，推出；发射；n.发射，下水，投产

参考例句：

• The makers are about to launch out a new product.制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。
• Would it be wise to launch into this rough sea?在这样汹涌的大海中游泳明智吗？

10 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

11 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

12 mates   

[英]伙伴( mate的名词复数 )； 同伴； （非正式）配偶； （熟练工人的）助手

参考例句：

• He's out boozing with his mates. 他和他的朋友们喝酒去了。
• They've been best mates since school. 他们从上学时期以来就是最要好的朋友。

13 faithful   

adj.守信的，忠实的，如实的，可靠的

参考例句：

• They promised to be faithful to their ideal for ever.他们保证永远忠于自己的理想。
• We must be honest and faithful to the people.我们对人民必须忠诚老实。

14 criticize   

vt.批评；批判，指责；评论，评价

参考例句：

• Whenever you criticize him,he always has an excuse.你批评他，他总有说头儿。
• You are free to criticize my work.你可以随意批评我的工作。

15 loyal   

adj.忠诚的，忠心的

参考例句：

• He is a loyal friend.他是一位忠诚的朋友。
• I judge him to be loyal.我认为他很忠诚。